Flying Witch is a manga series by Chihiro Ishizuka. I read the first volume last year and am finally finishing the series since since my library has every copy. I’ll be positing reviews of three volumes at a time starting with the first three in the series.
Volume 1
Synopsis
“Makoto Kowata, a novice witch, packs up her belongings (including a black cat familiar) and moves in with her distant cousins in rural Aomori to complete her training and become a full-fledged witch.”
-Synopsis from back cover
Review
This volume starts with Makoto arriving somewhat unexpectedly at her cousin’s home in Aomori. Her older cousin Kei helps her get settled in while her younger cousin, Chiantsu, suspects something is up with Makoto after she hears Makoto talking to her cat, Chitsu. Chiantsu doesn’t yet know that Makoto is a witch. Makoto starts at her new school and makes a friend, Nao, who starts hanging out with the three of them. The Harbinger of Spring, who has the face of an owl and the body of a human, was an interesting character who showed up in one of the chapters. Makoto’s sister also shows up to give Makoto a magic lesson which doesn’t go quite as planned. The adventures in this volume are whimsical and sweet and really set the tone for the series.
Volume 2
Synopsis
“Makoto goes to a local cherry blossom festival and happens to encounter someone who has a bone to pick with her sister, Akane. When Akane happens to drop by, she teaches Makoto some new tricks for flying and some easy spellcraft. Their kid cousin Chinatsu is so charmed by the witches’ talents that she makes an unexpected request…”
-Synopsis from back cover
Review
At the cherry blossom festival, Makoto and her cousins Kei and Chinatsu meet Inukai, who is upset with Makoto’s sister, Akane, for putting a spell on her. Makoto does her best to help Inukai, but she is still learning magic and can’t reverse the spell. Until Akane shows up, they aren’t entirely sure what happened to Inukai or how she can get back to normal. When Akane arrives, Chinatsu declares to her that she wants to be a witch. Akane agrees to let her observe some of her training with Makoto in order to help her decide if she really wants to be a witch. Chapter 11: Uncanny Candy had me laughing out loud!
Volume 3
Synopsis
“Makoto and her cousins visit a cafe run by a witch that’s cloaked in magic and has regular visitors from folks on the “other side.” Inukai stops by to make amends, and Nao gets a taste of some spicy medicine. Akane drops by just in time for a very special sighting of a rare, sky-borne animal…”
-Synopsis from back cover
Review
This may have been the cutest volume of Flying Witch yet! I loved the cafe that Makoto, Kei, and Chiantsu visited. It’s disguised as a dilapidated building and while humans can visit it, special instructions have to be followed in order to see it. Inukai shows up to offer some fortune telling to Makoto and her cousins, and Akane teaches Chiantsu about the special newspaper for “folks from the other side” which primarily means witches. We also learn that Kenny, Akane’s cat familiar, and Anzu, their new friend from the cafe, are total history buffs and can drop knowledge about just about anything at any time. This was probably my favorite of the series so far.
Hannah's Library 
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